Park of pride

THE Wallace Avenue Community Park in Inverloch was officially opened last Thursday, in front of a park full of people.

The park was one of several set aside as public open space to offset the loss of Apex Park for the location of the elderly units and community centre that exist there today.

The Wallace Avenue Community Park Group was formed to put forward a vigorous campaign firstly to save and then to develop the park to ensure its retention.

The members of the committee included Judy Vradenburg, Norman Vradenburg, Gerry Lonergan, Barb Langston and Carli Johnstone.

Mrs Vradenburg said over the years, the park was left in a state of neglect and in February 2010, Bass Coast Shire Council proposed to rezone and sell the land for residential development.

“The park is now developed, boasting an eight metre long sculpture/seat depicting Koolusuchus cleelandi, a prehistoric amphibian discovered off Inverloch and San Remo,” she said.

The unique sculpture, the eggs and the mud rock surrounds, were constructed by Phil Stray and the team from Crafted Landscapes, with the help of dinosaur expert Lesley Kool.

Fellow expert Mike Cleeland provided the template for the footprints in the path.

“This park has brought the community together. The sound of laughter is regularly heard here and the hoots of men playing Koob,” Ms Vradenburg said.

“Families picnic and pose for photos on the sculpture. Adults walk dogs, or run the rocks for exercise, or come here for a bit of solitude and we hear of children going home to research prehistoric marine creatures.

“It is a place the locals can call their own without being overrun by tourists. Little children pick grass and flowers and feed them to Koolasuchus cleelandi.”

Ms Vradenburg said the committee would like to thank everyone who helped towards the fundraising effort, even those who bought a sausage or put some coins in a tin.

“This park would not exist without the hard work of volunteers, and it now stands in honour of volunteers everywhere,” she said.

“Inverloch Rotary is to be congratulated for their involvement, donations and support for the project.

The group also received a grant from Regional Development Victoria Putting Locals First program for $35,540.

Hard working: the Wallace Avenue Community Park was brought to life with the help of many dedicated people, including from left, Judy Vradenburg with Tayla Wyhoon, Bass Coast Shire Council mayor Cr Jordan Crugnale, Regional Development Victoria’s Laurie Paton and Bass Coast Shire Council recreation and open space planner Howard Scott.

Short URL: http://thestar.com.au/?p=16789

Posted by Tayla Kershaw
on Nov 24 2015. Filed under Community.
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